Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
business (adj., n.)
has a wide range of meanings, nearly all of them Standard. Its specialized senses include the commercial, such as I’m in business for myself, His business is making widgets for export and Our company really wants your business. There is also an important specialized theatrical use: During the pause in the dialogue, the director had him do some business involving lighting a cigarette and pouring a drink. These senses pose no problems. The generalized senses, as in This is a messy business you’ve gotten us into, What business is it of yours? and I hate the business of cleaning up after a party, are a bit more troublesome. Sometimes they work at Conversational levels of speech, but they usually seem weak and flabby in expository prose. There are also some useful idioms, including the Conversational to mean business, “to be serious, intent,” as in The glint in her eye showed she meant business, and to get down to business, meaning “to turn to serious discussion or action,” as in We chatted for a minute or two, but then we got right down to business; and the slang to give someone (or to get) the business, meaning “to treat someone (or to be treated) harshly,” as in When she finally arrived, he really gave her the business for being late. See also BUSYNESS; PROPOSAL.
